Camp Wildbrook

Robert and Florence Kraushar founded Camp Wildbrook in 1952, and 56 years later it is still running strong. The day camp runs from 9:30 to 3:20 each day for six weeks over the summer, and it’s SO much fun. I attended the camp – as did my mother and two siblings – for the maximum six years (between ages six and 12), and just thinking about it now makes me want to go back.
Wildbrook is off of Daly Road near Winton Woods on the West side of town, but despite its location many East side parents continue to send their children on the long, hot bus rides each summer to the camp. In fact, many of the campers over the years have been the children, and now probably grandchildren of former Wildbrook campers. The 48 counselors for the 264 campers (12 bunks of 22 children) are predominantly teachers and college students, who make sure that the campers have lots of fun while being safe.
With the exception of Arts and Crafts and Gymnastics, virtually the entire camp is outdoors. Wildbrook offers a ton of great activities each week including the Red-​Cross Swimming Program, archery, riflery, kickball, t-​ball/​softball, soccer, drama, and nature. Each week the campers get to choose some of their favorite activities for their twice a day «club» periods, including Fun & Games (including Dr. Dodgeball, Duck Duck Goose/​Water, and Capture the Flag), Basketball, Tin Can Cooking, Lanyard, Bugs & Nature, Floor Hockey, Clout Archery, and Swimming.
Each year there is a Parents Visiting Day, there’s usually a field trip one afternoon, each of the 12 bunks gets to have a special cookout in nature once during the summer, and once a week there is also a popsicle/​ice cream treat day. At the end of each week is also an awards program, which is always fun for the kids and counselors. Campers who have completed the third grade are also eligible to attend the really fun overnight that occurs once for boys and once for girls on a Friday night/​Saturday morning. Probably the most fun, however, comes on the occasional camp-​wide major events such as the Crazy Auction or Olympic Days that take place each year.
Having attended Camp Wildbrook for six years, I’m certain it’s THE best day camp. Others think that to, so make sure to get your children on the waiting list while they’re still in preschool. No joke. While the swim lessons and huge hills to walk up aren’t always fun, there’s no better place to spend your summer as a kid. Ask any former camper about Area 6, Kick the Can, or the «rain forest,» and not only will they know what you mean, it too will bring back a ton of great memories from Camp Wildbrook.